Dispensing apparatus



May 17, 1966 L, DEAN ETAL 3,251,188

DI SPENS ING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 50, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORSLESTER M. DEAN BY WILLIAM D'ESOP'O ATTOFNE' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. M. DEANETAL DISPENSING APPARATUS III ln u itiix May 17, 1966 Filed Oct. 30,1964 35 pki' INVENTOR-S LESTER M. DEAN I BY WILLIAM D E?OPO ATTORNEY.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 30, 1964 95 Ari 4 INVENTORS LESTER M. DEANBY WILLIAM D'ESOPO ATTOPN K United States Patent 3,251,188 DISPENSINGAPPARATUS Lester M. Dean, 167 Newburgh Ave, Buffalo, N.Y., and WilliamDEsopo, 405 Capen Blvd., Eggertsville, N.Y. Filed Oct. 30, 1964, Ser.No. 407,754 12 Claims. (Cl. 62-3) This invention relates to dispensingapparatus and is particularly concerned with such apparatus which isdesigned for the sanitary dispensing of individual servings pf food,drug, and like products that require sanitary, refrigerated storage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus of thecharacter described which is adapted to permit the dispensing ofindividual servings of such products from a stock therein whilepreserving the stock from contamination.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide novelapparatus of the character described which is provided with means forcooling a stock of servings of such products in a dispenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the characterdescribed which prevents or minimizes atmospheric contamination ofrefrigerated products stored therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus of thecharacter described which is inexpensive to produce and convenient touse.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of dispensive apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view along section line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an individual butter pat on a servingtray of a type adapted for use in the apparatus of FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view along line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- URE 2 of amodified form of apparatus according to the invention.

The above mentionedobjects of the present invention are achieved byproviding in dispensing apparatus an insulated container which providesroom therein for one or more columns of serving packages of comestiblesand cooling means for such packages. The container is so designed andconstructed as to permit easy access to and removal of the bottompackage in each column while at the same time keeping the remainder ofthe packages in each column refrigerated and protected from dust, fliesand casual handling.

Use of novel dispensing apparatus according to the invention permitsrestaurants, lunch counters, and other eating places to store servingpackages of comestibles at points convenient for service by employees orfor selfservice by patrons and at the same time avoids the unsanitaryconditions usually present in such storage. For example, butter pats arenow frequently kept by restaurants in a vessel, along with water andchunks of ice, on a counter or serving table. Not only is therenecessarily contamination by dust and dirt falling in thevessel, butflies and other insects can readily light on the butter. Further, thebutter is often so chilled as to be brittle and consequently difficultto remove from the vessel with out breaking the pats. Such breakage is,of course, undesirable.

In FIGURES l-4, inclusive, the numeral 10 designates a dispensingcontainer according to the present invention.

This container is generally rectangular in shape and formed of durableplastic material such as high impact polystyrene, polypropylene, orother suitable material, the front wall 11, back wall 12, and side walls13 being preferably hollow, thereby to provide dead air insulatingspaces within said walls. A top or lid 15 is provided for the container10.

The lid 15 is preferably formed of the same plastic material as thecontainer sides. It comprises a rectangular inner portion 16 which, likethe sides of container 10, is preferably hollow to provide an insulatingspace 17 and a peripheral outwardly flanged portion 18. The latter restsupon the tops of the container walls when the lid is in place while theinner portion 16 of the lid, which is thicker, extends downwardly intothe top of the container. A reasonably close fit of the lid is desirableto minimize air circulation through the container.

The interior of the container 10 is adapted to contain two columns ofcomestible packages. As illustrated, the packages are individualservings of butter, i.e. butter pats, each in a suitable tray. As bestshown in FIGURE 3, each butter pat 20 is carried in a tray or dish 21which is preferably formed of heavy paper or cardboard and is covered bya small sheet of parchment or waxed paper 23. There are commerciallyavailable cartons which contain a plurality of butter pats ofpredetermined size arranged on such trays, and it is contemplated thatthe container 10 will be loaded with the butter pats by removing thefront of the carton and sliding the carton into the top of thecontainer. In such case, as shown'in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, the remainderof the cartons, designated by the reference character 22, would maintainthe column of trays 21 in alignment and out of direct contact with thewalls of the container.

At the lower ends of the back 12 and sidewalls 13 of the container is abottom 24 preferably integral therewith. The bottom 24 is provided inits front edge 25 with a pair of spaced generally arcuate cutouts 26.The front 11 of the container 10 terminates above the bottom 24 leavinga space 27 (FIGURE 2) through which the butter pats 20 on their trays 21may be removed from the container. The cutouts 26 permit the convenientgrasping of the lowermost tray 21 in each column between the thumb andforefinger of the person withdrawing the pat.

The interior of the container 10 is divided into two sections by avertical partition 30 which extends inwardly from the front 11intermediate the sides 13. The partition 30 is preferably formedintegrally with the front 11 and extends upwardly from the bottom 24 toa point somewhat below the top of the container so as to provideclearance for the lid 15.

Each of the vertically extending compartments 31 formed in the interiorof the container 10 by the partition 30 is adapted to contain a columnof butter pats 20 on trays 21, the partition 30 serving to separate thecolumns. Between the columns of butter pats in the compartments 30 andthe back wall 12 of the container Ill is a space 32 in which there maybe located cooling means for the butter or other comestible kept in thecon tainer. While cracked ice or similar refrigerant may be employed, itis preferred to employ a removable, sealed, refrigerant canister.

Such canisters, which are desirably made of stainless steel to obviatecorrosion, are sealed and may contain liquids known to the art, such asmixtures of water with alcohols and/ or ethylene glycol. The canister issubjected to low temperatures, preferably at least l0-15 C., thusfreezing the liquid therein and may then be used for refrigerating orcooling products or articles placed near or adjacent thereto. Thecanister 35, as shown, has a substantially rectangular, block-like body36 and a handle 37 that projects upwardly from the top of the body 36and is bent over to provide a lifting flange 38. The canister 35 ispreferably of such size as to substantially fill the space 32.

Extending downwardly from the sides 13 of the container and preferablyformed integrally and parallel therewith are elongated legs 39stabilized by gussets. The legs 39 form a base which permits convenientaccess to the butter pats in the container when the latter is set on acounter or table (not shown). If desired, however, the container may behung on a wall, partition, or other support (not shown) by any suitableand appropriate well known means (not shown).

In FIGURE 6 there is illustrated in vertical section a modified form ofdispensing apparatus according to the present invention. ,The container42 is substantially like the container 10 shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 4 and5, butis modified to provide for the use of thermo-electric coolingmeans for the comestible packages stored therein. Like the container 10,the container 42 comprises a front wall 43, side walls 44, and a bottom45. It is also provided with a lid or cover 46 which may besubstantially identical with the lid as well as a vertical partition 47intermediate the side 44.

From FIGURE 6, it will be observed that the back of the container 42comprises an insulated wall 48 and spaced rearwardly thereof a secondwall 49 extending upwardly, and preferably parallel to the wall 48, fromthe lower ends of the side walls 44 for a substantial distance, thusproviding a passage 50 between walls 48 and 49. Adjacent its upper endthere is provided in the insulated wall 48 an inwardly recessed, singlewalled portion through which extend thermoelectric elements 53 and 54.At their outer ends the thermoelectric elements are in heatconductivecontact with a metallic heat sink or radiator 55. A thin metal plate 56,preferably of aluminum or stainless steel, is secured by suitable means(not shown) to the inner ends of the elements 53 and 54. The plate 56 isspaced inwardly a short distance from the insulated back wall 48 and isparallel thereto and of slightly smaller dimensions so as to fit withinthe container 42.

The thermoelectric elements 53 and 54 may be of 1 any suitable anddesired materials and be constructed in any desired and convenientshape. Such devices are commercially available. U.S. Patents Nos.2,977,400, granted March 28, 1961 to A. I. Cornish, and 2,896,005,granted July 21, 1959 to R. W. Fritts et al., for example, disclosecompositions and procedures suitable for producing the elements 53 and54. The heat sink 55 may be of any desired type. Many such devices areknown to the art and are commercially available.

In the modification of FIGURE 6 it is desirable to minimize heattransfer through the bottom and accordingly it is formed with doublewalls to provide an insulating air space therein which may, as shown, bein communication with the interior of the insulated back 48. The bottom45 is also provided with cutouts 58 in the forward edge thereof.

A base 60 is provided for the container 42 to facilitate removal of thebutter pats from the container and to enable it to be conveniently usedon a counter or table. This base has walls that extend downwardly fromthe side walls 44 and rear walls 48 and 49 of the container and alsoserves to house elements of the refrigerating mechanism. The base 60 hasa front opening 61 which is preferably closed by a grid or screen 62.Within the enclosed space or chamber 67 beneath the main part of thecontainer there may be suitably mounted a rectifier 63 of any desiredand suitable design and construction to convert conventional alternatingelectrical current to direct current for supplying the thermoelectricelements 53 and 54. Also within this space there may be providedventilating means such as the motor 64 and the fan or I blower 66 whichdraws air from the chamber 67 through be air cooled. If desired ornecessary a suitable ventilating means such as an electrically drivenfan or blower 63 of any desired and convenient design to provide a flowof cooling air over the heat sink or radiator 55 and the rectifiertransformer (not shown) may also be provided to obtain electricalcurrent of the proper voltage.

The operation of the modified form ofcontainer is very simple. It isonly necessary to load the container 42 with serving packages ofcomestibles and supply electrical current through a suitable line (notshown). The flow of electrical current through the thermoelectricelements 53 and 54 causes their inner ends to become cold and theirouter ends hot. The heat from the latter is dissipated in the heat sink55, while the inner ends of the elements are secured to the metal plate56 which thereby serves as a cold wall that absorbs heat from theinterior of the container and keeps the contents cool.

In using the container 10 it is usually desirable to employ at least tworefrigerant canisters 35 so that one can be freezing while the other isin use cooling the contents of the container. Depending upon the ambienttemperature a canister will keep the contents of the container at about38-40 for 6 to 8 hours before it must bereplaced.

As previously mentioned the refrigerated containers are preferablymolded from a suitable plastic with hollow Walls to provide dead airinsulating spaces therein. The molding may be done in any suitable knownway. If desired, however, the walls may be filled with an insulatingmaterial such as foamed polyurethane resin or the walls may be solid andother insulating material, such, for example, as glass wool, exfoliatedvermiculite, cork, or the like, be provided in suitable form as a walllining. The container may also, of course, be formed of other materialssuch as metal or sheet plastic if desired. In general, however, suchmaterials are not as satisfactory since molding permits the readyproduction of rounded interior corners and joints, thus facilitating themaintenance of sanitary conditions.

It will be understood that the design and construction of refrigerateddispensing containers may be varied and modified to a considerableextent in other respects without departing from the invention. Thus, thecontainer may be designed to hold only one column of comestible servingpackages, or three or more if desired. So also, a plurality ofrefrigerant canisters or cartridges may be placed in the containerinstead of one and such canisters may be of any desired shape and size.Further, means may be provided, if desired, for varying the size of thedispensing opening at the front of the container to permit the removalof a plurality of packages at once.

Other possible modifications will present themselves to those using suchcontainers and it is desired, therefore, that the invention shall not beconsidered as limited to the construction shown and described. It isintended, rather, that it should be construed as broadly as permitted bythe appended claims.

It will be further understood that, while the foregoing description ofthe invention has been illustrated by reference to the storage anddispensing of butter pats, the invention comprehends the use of suchdispensers as described for storing under cool, sanitary conditionsuntil required, small packages of other comestibles such, for example,as cream, mayonnaise, and sauces, as well as drugs, vaccines, and otherperishable products.

We claim:

1. A dispensing container adapted for holding and cooling packages ofcomestibles and other products requiring sanitary, refrigerated storageand dispensing the same which comprises a body having insulated front,back, and side walls, a closely fitting lid for said body, and a bottomsupported by a base, said body being rectangular in shape and beingprovided with at least one internal partition,

said partition being integral with and projecting inwardly from saidfront but terminating short of said back, and

extending from said bottom substantially to the upper end of said bodywhereby to divide the interior of said body into a plurality ofintercommunicating compartments, each of said compartments being adaptedto receive and contain a plurality of vertically stacked comestiblepackages, said front terminating at its lower end above and spaced fromsaid bottom and said body having a cutout below each of saidcompartments whereby the lowermost package in each of said compartmentsmay be conveniently grasped by the fingers for removal, and said bodyhaving a space therein adjacent to and communicating with each of saidcompartments adapted for the reception of refrigerating means.

2. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 1 in which said space isprovided between the stacked comestible packages and the back of saidcontainer and is accessible from the top of said body.

3. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 1 in.

which said base is of such height as to permit easy access to the cutout portion of said bottom and is adapted to provide stable s-upport ona flat surface.

4. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 1 in which said front,back, and side walls are hollow thereby to provide dead air insulationtherein.

5. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 1 in which saidpartition is integral with said bottom.

6. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 1 in which saidcompartments are in open communication throughout their lengths witheach other and with said space.

7. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 6 in which saidcompartments are adapted for receiving said packages from the top onlyof said body.

8. A dispensing container as set forth in claim 7 in which said body isfree from openings except at said top and said bottom.

9. The combination with a dispensing container as set forth in claim 1of refrigerating means in said space.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 in which said refrigeratingmeans comprises a closed container.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 9 in which said refrigeratingmeans comprises a cold plate.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said plate iscooled by thermoelectric means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,633,588 6/1927Klinenberg 62-378 1,771,933 7/1930 Lehrman 62-378 2,582,155 1/1952Pedersen 221-92 2,860,941 11/1958 Fromwiller 312-36 3,018,6 3 1 1/1962Bury 62-3 3,097,899 7/ 1962 Dean 312-36 WILLIAM J. WYE, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A DISPENSING CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR HOLDING AND COOLING PACKAGES OFCOMESTIBLES AND OTHER PRODUCTS REQUIRING SANITARY, REFRIGERATED STORAGEAND DISPENSING THE SAME WHICH COMPRISES A BODY HAVING INSULATED FRONT,BACK, AND SIDE WALLS, A CLOSELY FITTING LID FOR SAID BODY, AND A BOTTOMSUPPORTED BY A BASE, SAID BODY BEING RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE AND BEINGPROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE INTERNAL PARTITION, SAID PARTITION BEINGINTEGRAL WITH AND PROJECTING INWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT BUT TERMINATINGSHORT OF SAID BACK, AND EXTENDING FROM SAID BOTTOM SUBSTANTIALLY TO THEUPPER END OF SAID BODY WHEREBY TO DIVIDE THE INTERIOR OF SAID BODY INTOA PLURALITY OF INTERCOMMUNICATING COMPARTMENTS, EACH OF SAIDCOMPARTMENTS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND CONTAIN A PLURALITY OFVERTICALLY STACKED COMESTIBLE PACKAGES, SAID FRONT TERMINATING AT ITSLOWER END ABOVE AND SPACED FROM SAID BOTTOM AND SAID BODY HAVING ACUTOUT BELOW EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS WHEREBY THE LOWERMOST PACKAGE INEACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS MAY BE CONVENIENTLY GRASPED BY THE FINGERS FORREMOVAL, AND SAID BODY HAVING A SPACE THEREIN ADJACENT TO ANDCOMMUNICATING WITH EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS ADAPTED FOR THE RECEPTIONOF REFRIGERATING MEANS.